“Hold on for a few. I’m gonna check out all the doors and windows. We shoulda had more guys for this job.” Rock marched around the house, making sure everything was locked and not tampered with.This house is so fuckin’ big it’s taken me almost an hour to check everything out. Give me my room at the club anytime.As he came back to the foyer, he saw Frederick and the woman walking down the stairs, his hand holding hers. Rock held his breath, but the moment she saw him she bowed her head again, her hair covering her face.No way, darlin’. One way or another, I’m gonna see you before I leave.
As they passed Rock and Jax, Frederick said to the woman, “Fix us lunch and bring the drinks, pet.” He escorted her into the dining room, the men standing as she came to the table. Rock doubted that the group was in the lifestyle, and Frederick acted differently with her this time than he had the last time the bikers had been there.
She took their drink orders and then served the drinks, telling them she’d be out in a little bit to serve lunch. In less than twenty minutes she placed a bright seafood salad on the table, a plate of croissants, small bowls of lemon and lime wedges, and a platter of watermelon, cantaloupe, and berries. She refilled the glasses with white wine.
“Leave the bottle here, pet. I’ll pour the wine. Why don’t you start cleaning the kitchen?”
“Yes, S—I mean, Frederick.” She rushed out of the room.
Rock came close to Jax. “I’m gonna check around again,” he said in a hushed voice. He went the other way, knowing from his earlier security check that he could enter the kitchen from the other side of the house.
As he approached the kitchen his heart pounded against his ribs.Calm the fuck down. What’s up with you, pussy?He stood in the doorway, admiring the way she looked in her knit dress as she bent over to put dishes in the washer, her lovely hair free-flowing.
“Need some help?” His voice came out louder than he wanted.
She whipped her head up, her back to him, stiff and straight. “No. You have to go.” She glanced sideways out the door leading to the dining room.
“He’s eating. He won’t bother us. I wanna talk to you.”
“Why can’t you leave me alone?” she whispered, her voice hitching.
“I don’t know.”
An uneasy silence fell over them.
“How’ve you been?” Rock asked gently.
“Fine,” she muttered. “I can’t talk to you.”
“Why not? Becausehetells you not to? You’re a grown woman. You can decide for yourself.”
“I can’t.” Her voice was so low he could barely hear her. The few words they had spoken between them had always been in hushed tones, as though she were speaking from the shadows that lurked around her.
“Okay, but before I go I want to see your face,” he blurted.
She gasped. “No.”
Without arguing, he was beside her in a couple long strides, spinning her to face him. She didn’t resist; it was like she’d been waiting for this moment since their breaths had first shared the same air. He lightly moved her hair from her face and placed his finger under her chin, tilting her head back so he could see her. He scanned her face and his gaze fell on her big shimmering green eyes. Beautiful eyes that reminded him of—Clotille!
“Fuck. It’s you, Clotille, isn’t it?”
She nodded then smiled.
“No wonder you were hiding your face. I’d never forget your eyes. What the fuck are you doing in Aspen with this asshole?”
She touched the base of her neck. “Please don’t tell Frederick we know each other. He’s very jealous.” She wrung her hands as she glanced out the door again. “Do you live in Aspen?”
“Pinewood Springs. I’ve been here since I got outta prison.”
“I heard you left Lafayette. I didn’t know where you’d had gone.”
“I’m with the Insurgents MC. We’re doing this piddly ass job as a favor to a longtime friend.” His gaze roamed over her body.She’s still so beautiful even though she’s lost a lot of weight.He didn’t remember the dark circles under her eyes. “How can you be a part of this jerk’s lifestyle?”
She shrugged. “It’s nice not being in control. I like being submissive and he loves being dominant, so it works for us.” She laughed nervously before looking out the door for the umpteenth time.
“That wasn’t who you were when I knew you.”
“That was a long time ago. I don’t think either of us knew who we were, Roche.”
